Community Development District Overview

The Southaven Community Development District (“District”) is an independent local unit of, special-purpose government, created pursuant to and existing under the provisions of Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, and established by Ordinance 2014-22, adopted of the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, Florida which became effective on May 6th, 2014.

The District currently encompasses approximately three hundred fourteen (314.34) acres of land located entirely within St. Johns County, Florida. As a local unit of special-purpose government, the District provides an alternative means for planning, financing, constructing, operating and maintaining various public improvements and community facilities within its jurisdiction.

A District provides the “solution” to Florida’s need to provide valuable community infrastructure generated by growth, ultimately without overburdening other governments and their taxpaying residents. Community Development Districts represent a major advancement in Florida’s effort to manage its growth effectively and efficiently. This allows a community to establish higher construction standards, meanwhile providing a long-term solution to the operation and maintenance of the community’s facilities.

CDD Organization

The Southaven Community Development District (the “District”) is organized similar to other local governments in Florida, in that the legislative body is composed of a five-member board known as the Board of Supervisors. The Board establishes the policy of the District in accordance with Florida law. The Board, by law, must hire a District Manager and District Counsel. Staff members operate utilizing the same formalities as a County Administrator and County Attorney. The Board, through review of advertised Requests for Qualifications, ranks and selects a District Engineer to perform the engineering needs of the District. The District staff administers the operations of the District and implements the Board’s policies and contracts.

District Administration

The District Manager’s responsibilities include:

Preparation and submittal of a proposed operations and maintenance budgets for Board review and action

Preparation of contract specifications for District operations, including community appearance, waterway management, street lighting and facilities maintenance

File all required forms and documents with state and local agencies

Attend all Board of Supervisor meetings – implement the policies of the Board